What Jesus Did : Mark 1:45 - Disobedience Hinders God's Plan
by Phil Ware
Disobedience Hinders God's Plan - Mark 1:45
The man left there and told all the people he saw that Jesus had healed him. So the news about Jesus spread. And that is why Jesus could not enter a town if people saw him. Jesus stayed in places where people did not live. But people came from all the towns to the places where Jesus was. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Many times we think we know what is best. Unfortunately, some of those times we actually disobey the clear teaching of the Lord because we think we know a better way. Invariably, our attempts at doing good by disobeying the Lord end up hindering his will. Certainly God can overcome our misguided attempts at helping his cause for he is God and he is sovereign and all-powerful. That's not the point. We need to obey him even when we can't understand the reasons behind the command and when we think we may know a better way to help and honor the Lord. The man who had leprosy disobeyed Jesus and told those around him about what Jesus had done. Instead of being able to fulfill God's purpose for him by going to the cities and villages and proclaiming the word there (see vs. 38-39), Jesus now has to stay in secluded spaces. People came to him, but he was cut off from going to them. The man's disobedience, though well-intentioned, interfered with Jesus' desire to fulfill his mission. In the same way, our disobedience of the Lord today often interferes with the Lord's desire to accomplish his mission in us!
Today's Prayer
Father, forgive me when I do not obey you. I know my disobedience hinders my own growth and can also interfere with your work in building the Kingdom and reaching the lost. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
A man that had leprosy came to Jesus. The man bowed on his knees and begged Jesus, "You have the power to heal me if you want." Jesus felt sorry for the man. So Jesus touched the man and said, "I want to heal you. Be healed!" Immediately the leprosy disappeared, and he was healed. Jesus told the man to go. But Jesus warned him strongly. Jesus said, "Don't tell any person about what I did for you. But go and show yourself to the priest. And offer a gift to God because you have been healed. Offer the gift that Moses commanded. This will show people that you are healed." The man left there and told all the people he saw that Jesus had healed him. So the news about Jesus spread. And that is why Jesus could not enter a town if people saw him. Jesus stayed in places where people did not live. But people came from all the towns to the places where Jesus was.-- Mark 1:40-45 (ERV)
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